Venetian blind



May 11, 1937. F. SCHIERGHOFER VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 31, 1936 INVENTOR. $220 5 c/u'ejghof e1" W AT(ORNEY.

Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND Fred Schierghofer, Tuckahoe, N. Y.

Application March 31, 1936, Serial No. 71,885

Claims.

. vention has reference, the raising or lowering of the blind is accomplished by a series of cords which pass over suitable rollers for attachment to the lowermost slat of the Venetian blind, upward movement of the lowermostslat causing similar movement of each successive slat. In order to retain the slats of the Venetian blind in any predetermined position, a catch device is employed which is arranged to engage the operating cords in such a manner that the overhanging weight of the Venetian blind causes the catch device to hold it firmly in its adjusted position.

Heretofore, the construction of the catch device was such that manipulation of the operating cords to raise or lower the blind from an angle other than perpendicular to the horizontal was rendered dimcult for the reason that it was necessary to return the cords through a considerable arc in order to engage the catch device for retaining the blind in the desired position. On

the other hand, manipulation of the operating cords from a perpendicular position is not always convenient because of draperies, curtains or other furnishings which are oftentimes in the way of the operator.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to construct a catch device which is especially adaptable for use in connection with Venetian blinds and which is .arranged to engage the Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the invention as viewed approximately on the line ll of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in action of the catch device taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the catch device as viewed along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

On this drawing, 10 represents a window reces's in a wall II. The Venetian blind is indicated generally by V and comprises a frame l2 which is carried by brackets such as i3 at the upper portion of the window recess Ill. Within the frame l2 are rollers such as M, I5, each being pivotally mounted on pins l6 and adapted to support and guide the operating cords l1, IS. The operating cord l1 passes over the roller 45 and thence extends downwardly for attachment to the lowermost slat of the Venetian blind, while the cord l8 extends to the otherside of the Venetian blind and is similarly related with the other end of the said lowermost slat.

A plurality of slats I! are included in each blind and they are suspended from the support beam 20 by fabric strips 9 which extend between the beam 20 and the lowermost slat to which the operating cords l1, l8 are attached. The beam 20 is pivotally suspended as at 2| from the frame [2, and is so arranged that it may be set at various angular positions about the axis of the pivotal support 2| whereby the slats I! become similarly positioned so as to exclude more or less light rays in accordance with the desires of the operator. Since the construction and operation of Venetian blinds is well known, further description thereof will not be necessary. The present invention is primarily concerned with the means and method of raising, lowering and locking the blinds in any desired vertical position, as will hereinafter appear.

Secured to the under side of the frame l2 and at one end thereof is a casing or supportmember carriage 26 which is pivotally mounted upon a bolt 21 carried by the side walls 24. 25. The car-- walls 28, 29 of the carriage 26 is a latch 3| having teeth 32 which are arranged to engage the cords |1, |8. Upon engagement of the teeth 32 by the cords |1, |8, the latch 3| may be moved upwardly about the pin 30 by an angular movement of the cords |1, |8 to the right side of the window aperture. The operator may then release the cords |1, |8 whereby the overhanging weight of the Venetian blind slats I9 will pull the cords l1, I8 and the engaged latch 3| a slight distance upwardly to cause the latch 3| tofirmly engage the cords l1, l8 and press the latter against the wall 33 depending from the hub 34 of the carriage 26.

It often occurs that the cords l1, l8 become twisted adjacent the latch 3| so that it is impossible to cause both cords to engage the teeth 32 of the latch 3|. When only one of the cords l1, l8 engages the latch 3|, the free cord, when the operator releases his hold on the cords, 'permits one side of the blind to fall unchecked which eventually breaks the contact between the latch 3| and the engaged cord, permitting the Venetian blind slats l9 to fall downwardly. This is a source of considerable trouble to the operator and is remedied only by untwisting the cords l1, l8 so that they are in a parallel relation.

In order to obviate this difliculty, I provide a pin 35, carried by the wall 33 of the carriage 26 and which pin extends between the cords |1, |8 at a point adjacent the latch 3|. This assures the maintenance of the cords l1, IS in a parallel relationship and the consequent simultaneous engagement of both cords by the latch 3|.

In order that the operating cords |1, |8 may be manipulated from any angle, and engagement of the latch 3| be eifected by only a slight angular movement of the cords to the left, the carriage 26 is arranged to be set at the will of the operator at the desired angle. To accomplish these ends, the sector-shaped wall 29 of the latch carriage 26 is provided with a series of apertures .36 which are equally spaced on an are described from the axis of the pivot bolt 21. In the side wall 25 of the casing an aperture 31 is provided somewhat larger than the apertures 36 and within which a ball 38 is inserted for engaging any one of said apertures 36. Outward movement of the ball 38 is restrained by a spring leaf 39 having a cap 40 fitting over said ball 38. The end of said spring leaf 39 remote from the cap 40 passes over threaded portion 4| of the bolt 21 and is maintained in such position by a nut 42. The latter is prevented from rotating by reason of the lug 43 onthe casing side wall 25 engaging one side of the nut 42 whereby the nut 42 is caused to move along the threaded portion 4| of the bolt 21 upon rotation of the latter through the knurled head 44 thereof. The position of the nut 42 on the bolt 21 will determine the tension of the spring 39. Preferably,

the tension should be so adjusted that, while to the right or left. Angular movement of the carriage 26 to the right is effected by a corresponding movement of the cords |1, |8 which will contact the depending wall 33. Further movement of the cords will cause downward swinging movement of the upper end of carriage walls 28, 29 and successive engagement of apertures 36 by the ball 38. When the desired angular position of the carriage 26 is attained, the operator pulls the cords I1, l8 downwardly until the slats I9 are at the desired height. Since the latch 3| moves with the carriage 26, it is obvious that only a slight angular movement of the cords is necessary to engage the teeth 32 of the latch 3|. Stating this in other words, the pivotal mounting of the latch carriage 26 permits the teeth 32 to be engaged at all times by angular movement of the cords l1, l8 through an arc no greater than that required when the cords are in a position such as shown in Fig. 1.

The latch carriage 26 may be set in the opposite direction by drawing the cords 1, l8 to the left whereby the latch 3| will be contacted, and since the stop 45 prevents leftward movement thereof about its pivot 30, such movement of the cords will move the carriage 26 and the latch 3| through any desired angle, the ball 38 acting to lock the carriage in its adjusted'position. This last described position of the carriage 26 and the latch 3| will be of especial advantage when the window recess I0 is located so that the side thereof at which the cords |1, I8 are disposed is closely adjacent a corner 46 of the room. The carriage 26 has -a limited range of movement about the bolt 21 by the provision of a stop element 41 at each upper side of the carriage side walls 28, 29 which are arranged to rest upon ledges such as 48. The wall 9 limits the travel of said carriage in the opposite direction.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the improvements herein set forth will greatly facilitate the operation of Venetian blinds, such operation being possible from any angle tosuit conditions, and the latching operations being accomplished by only a slight angular movement of the operating cords.

I claim:

1. A Venetian blind latch device comprising a support member, a latch carriage pivotally mounted. with said support member and a latch supported by said carriage being pivotally related therewith, means for adjusting said latch carriage angularly with respect to said support member, and means for maintaining said carriage in its adjusted position.

2. A Venetian blind latch device comprising a support member, a latch carriage pivotally mounted with said support member, a latch supported by said carriage and being pivotally relat-' ed therewith, means for adjusting said latch carriage in any predetermined angular position with respect to said support member and means for maintaining said carriage in its adjusted position.

3. A Venetian blind latch device comprising a support member, a latch carriage pivotally mounted with said support member, a latch supported by said carriage and being pivotally related therewith, and means for adjusting said latch carriage in any-predetermined angular position with respect to said support member, said means arranged to retain said latch carriage in its adjusted angular position and including an arrangement for inter-engaging said support mem-' her and said carriage.-

4; A Venetian blind latch device comprising a support member, alatch carriagepivotally mounted with said support member, a latch supported by said carriage and being pivotally related therewith, and means for adjusting said latch carriage in any predetermined angular position with respect to said support member, said means arranged to retain said latch carriage in its adjusted angular position and including a spring actuated arrangement for inter-engaging said support member and said carriage.

5. A Venetian blind latch device comprising a support member, a latch carriage pivotally mounted with said support member, a latch supported by said carriage and being pivotally related therewith, and means for adjusting said latch carriage in any predetermined angular position with respect to said support member, said means arranged to retain said latch carriage in its adjusted angular position and including a spring actuated arrangement for inter-engaging said support member and said carriage, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring actuated arrangement.

FRED SCHIERGHOFER. 

